It’s hard to believe it’s May already! This year is already flying by, so I thought I’d provide you with a quick ‘catch up’ on what’s been happening around IBS.

To start with, the build of our online ordering system is progressing well. Our management information system (MIS) is fully integrated into the online ordering system. We are now in the final stages of testing and hope to be slowly rolling it out to clients in the second half of this year. In order for the system to work correctly, it is imperative that files are supplied as two page PDFs (pg1. Front, pg2. Back, for each unique art). Therefore I encourage everyone to set their files up this way from now on.

To assist you during the changeover period we have created a complete range of templates and video tutorials, which are available on our website, illustrating the process of correctly saving a two page pdf. Here are a couple of key points to remember when saving your PDF files:

Flatten all transparencies
Convert all text to curves / outlines
Files are CMYK only, with the exception of Metalix colours (PANTONE 877 C).
Files have two pages (pg1. Front, pg2. Back, for each unique art).

For more details please visit our website or if you have any questions or are unsure how to complete any steps please don't hesitate to call, as we are more than happy to help.

Speaking of making things easier, we are currently wading through the information you’ve provided us in the recent Feedback Form. Some of you have given us ideas on how to improve our service, while others have guided us on the possible future direction of IBS. A special thanks to everyone who participated in this – we hope the gift of 50 extra entries in the ‘Win a Chance to Play for $100,000’ promotion brings you luck!

Till next time,
Your partner in print.

Scott Siganto

It seems like only yesterday we were promoting 2009 calendars to celebrate the beginning of the year. Now, we’re advising you to order your 09-10 financial year calendars before time runs away from us! Click here for prices, design templates and specifications. Order before 31 August to enjoy these great prices!

A growing number of companies today are adopting loyalty programs to reward and therefore encourage, their customers to use them more often. They do this by simply offering a membership or loyalty card. Does this sound appealing to you? Well it’s easy to implement and promote – here’s how you do it!

Decide what it is that you wish to offer as a reward for your customer’s loyalty, and how you’re going to measure it. For instance, will you give them a discount off everything they order from you upon presentation of their membership or loyalty card? Or will you give them a free product once they’ve visited your copy store and had their card stamped more than five times? Once you’ve decided this, you can proceed to creating the card.

It’s a popular idea to adapt your business card artwork to incorporate some sort of tally system on the reverse side. This could be numbered boxes, pictures of coffee cups, letters of the alphabet, anything… use your imagination! However by all means, if you wish to make your loyalty card look completely different from your business card, do so.

Distribute these loyalty cards to your clients, either by handing out when they visit you or mailing them. It’s important that you take the time to explain the benefits of participating in the loyalty program to your customer. Build up their interest and desire in obtaining whatever’s on offer, and remind them that it’s as simple as showing their loyalty card every time they visit.

One of the greatest benefits of introducing a loyalty program is that it shows your customers how important they are to you, and it allows you to track who is giving you repeat business. This can then provide invaluable information on what direction your business takes in the future, as you can see what products or services your regular clientele purchases from you.

Loyalty programs are also a very easy concept to sell to your customers to increase business card orders. Why not suggest it when you’re introducing your loyalty program, and benefit from the great prices during June?

To help you launch your loyalty program, or for you to promote such programs to your customers, we’re proud to release this month’s special: free colour backs on all standard-sized gloss business card orders placed between 1 – 30 June!

Perfect for loyalty programs, whereby you use both sides of the card – one for your logo and company details and the reverse for the loyalty program redemption, this offer can save you heaps! Plus, use this month’s Marketing idea and you could not only be saving money, but making more of it too!

Please ensure you quote code 'FREE BACKS' in the subject line of your email order when you place your order to receive this offer. This is the only redemption method available for this offer and it will not apply if you mention it after you order has been received by IBS. End this financial year with a bang!

Did you know we can number your jobs? Were you also aware that these numbers do not have to start at 0 or 1?

Loyalty Cards
A client approached us with a somewhat unusual situation with a customer who owned a growing chain of coffee shops. Their aim was to increase their regular patronage by introducing a loyalty program. However they wanted to trial several different advertising methods to promote the loyalty program and track the results.

Together with the client, it was determined the best way to achieve this was numbering the loyalty cards. This inexpensive finish meant the master franchisor could track which cards were being used where, particularly when the loyalty cards were redeemed. For instance, each of the five local franchises were given 500 cards, and the numbers of these were recorded. The master franchisor could then track which of the coffee shops were returning the most loyalty cards. Furthermore, within each 500 range, half were given out as a free promotion with the local radio station, while the remaining cards were given out in-store. The numbering meant the master franchisor could determine whether the radio promotion was more effective than being given at point-of-sale. Finally, as more cards were required, they could easily be printed and numbered starting at the next consecutive number. What a clever use of a simple extra finish!